MEMOIR
I Never Cooked a Turkey
Until my mom died
When women support each other, incredible things happen ~ Cher
This story first appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, Tales of Christmas; 101 Stories of Holiday Joy, Love, and Gratitude. October 15, 2024
How hard can it be to cook a turkey? After all, I watched my grandma and mom cook them for as long as I can remember. They would place the turkey in the roaster and pop it in the oven. And just like that, a perfectly golden brown roasted bird graced our Thanksgiving table every year. I never paid much attention to the process. My focus was only on the feast.
I remember the year that things would be different. Although my dear grandma had been gone for several years, this was the first holiday when my mom would be gone, too.
She had passed away on November 19, 1997, at the age of 74. Her funeral took place just six days before Thanksgiving.
Facing that first Thanksgiving without my grandma or mom, I quickly realized that not only had I suddenly become the matriarch of our family, but I was next in line to reign over the Thanksgiving dinner. This was a bequest I did not want. I felt sad and nervous. After all, I had never cooked a turkey.
